Association Transformation

Send us Fan Mail What really drives leadership decisions? Data, ethics, or a good hard look in the mirror? 🤔 In our latest episode, we dive into the Institute of Leadership’s new Leading into the Future report and wrestle with change fatigue, the “talent tightrope,” and whether “business as usual” is really dead (spoiler: it’s not. We still need to keep the lights on💡). We even debate the perils...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 157 of Association Transformation , co-hosts Elisa Pratt and Andrew Chamberlain tackle one of the most uncomfortable, but increasingly urgent, realities in association life: the mistreatment of volunteers and staff by volunteers, board members, and even peers. From midnight phone calls and casual abuse to gossip, blurred boundaries, and outright boardroom bullying, this...

Send us Fan Mail Is your digital content reaching everyone? In Episode 156 of Association Transformation , Elisa Pratt goes solo to tackle a vital and often overlooked conversation on digital accessibility and ADA Section 508 compliance, with special guests Elisa Cohen and Prudhvi Mandava of Schatz Strategy Group. Together, we unpack how compliance is more than a legal requirement but a strategic...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 155 of Association Transformation , co-hosts Elisa Pratt and Andrew Chamberlain welcome Mark Athitakis, Contributing Editor at Associations Now , the flagship digital publication of ASAE. Mark pulls back the curtain on the stories behind the stories, sharing: ✅ How he translates complex topics like governance, membership, technology, and events into accessible insights...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for Episode 154 of Association Transformation , where co-hosts Elisa Pratt and Andrew Chamberlain sit down with Beth Eagle, Chief Finance & Operations Officer at the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), to unpack what it really takes to juggle CFO and COO responsibilities in today’s association landscape. Beth shares candid insights on: ✅ Balancing financial stewards...

Send us Fan Mail Recorded live from their Autumn 2025 leadership retreat, Elisa and Andrew tackle a big question: are membership dues dead? They unpack the flaws of the annual renewal model, the pull of subscription-style approaches, and the tension between value, belonging, and revenue. In the context of declining memberships and contemporary economic realities, they argue for bold scenario plann...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode of Association Transformation , Andrew and Elisa reflect on their very first Governance as Leadership Retreat . Over two days, CEOs, board chairs, and senior leaders came together to dig deep into the realities of governance: the horror stories, the successes, and the uncomfortable truths about what really drives board performance. We unpack the recurring t...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back!! In this episode Elisa and Andrew sit down with guest Jane Zaretskie, CAE to unpack the essential strategies behind real, lasting membership growth. Forget the flashy trends, Jane takes us back to the foundations of recruitment and retention with practical insights from her award-winning work and recent transition to an AMC environment. From simplifying the join proc...

Send us Fan Mail We're taking a break for the summer, but we don't want you to go without your regular AT fix, so we're re-releasing some of our favourites until we return in September. Next up, we're going back to Season 5, Episode 123 from November 2024. In Episode 123 of the Association Transformation podcast, we explore the power of constructive conflict. Of course, not all...

Send us Fan Mail We're taking a break for the summer, but we don't want you to go without your regular AT fix, so we're re-releasing some of our favourites until we return in September. Next up, we're going back to Season 5, Episode 111 from this time last year. Join Elisa and Andrew as they welcome podcasting guru Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations . Discover how...

Send us Fan Mail We're taking a break for the summer but we don't want you to go without your regular AT fix, so we're re-releasing some of our favourites until we return in September. Next up, we're going back to Season 4, Episode 73 from April 2023.  Maddie Grant, Culture Designer with Propel, joins the Association Transformation family for a deep dive into culture with Elisa...

Send us Fan Mail We're taking a break for the summer, but we don't want you to go without your regular AT fix, so we're re-releasing some of our favourites until we return in September. Next up, we're going back to Season 5, Episode 118 from October 2024. Elisa and Andrew sit down with renowned reputation management expert Anthony Huey, CEO and Founder of Reputation Management...

Send us Fan Mail We're taking a break for the summer, but we don't want you to go without your regular AT fix, so we're re-releasing some of our favourites until we return in September. Next up, we're going back to Season 3, Episode 63 from September 2022. Constructive relationships amongst association leadership are fundamental to an organisation's success but too often w...

Send us Fan Mail We're taking a break for the summer, but we don't want you to go without your regular AT fix, so we're re-releasing some of our favourites until we return in September. Next up, we're going back to Season 4, Episode 70 from February 2023. You’ve heard the debate: Association CEOs should come from industry. Others insist the chief staff executive should be a tes...

Send us Fan Mail 🎉 150 episodes and still surviving! In our milestone episode, Surviving Nonprofits , we’re joined by Survivor winner and nonprofit leader Ethan Zohn to talk scaling global impact, building better boards, and leading through challenge and change. From grassroots to governance, this episode brings the best of what Association Transformation has delivered for 150 episodes : real tal...

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 The Credibility Crisis: Can Associations Rebuild Trust in a Post-Truth World? 📄 New White Paper Alert: Restoring Trust in Expertise In a world drowning in misinformation, eroding trust, and self-declared "experts," can membership organizations reclaim their role as guardians of truth and professional integrity? In our latest episode of Association Transformation , we...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for a hot mid-year conversation as we take the temperature on where associations really stand in 2025. We dive into the reality of AI adoption—why the gap is widening between early adopters and everyone else, and how technical discussions are keeping members from getting started with AI basics. We also tackle the mounting pressure on associations to constantly innovate and...

Send us Fan Mail Elisa and Andrew are on the road this week but we don't want you to go without your weekly dose of AT!! So here's a Season 4 episode we released back in November 2023. We'll be back soon but until then, put your members and your mission first!! We’re thankful for our #boardofdirectors . . . aren’t we?? Let’s talk about the challenges and complexities of board cultur...

Send us Fan Mail Why do associations struggle with something as fundamental as branding? In this eye-opening episode of Association Transformation, hosts Andrew Chamberlain and Elisa Pratt welcome Tom Silva, Principal of Silver Brand and author of "The Challenge of Association Branding," to unpack the unique obstacles facing membership organizations. From volunteer governance structures...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered what happens when 400+ volunteers spread across 44 committees becomes an organizational nightmare? Our latest Association Transformation episode features Angela Davis, CEO of the Society for Pediatric Radiology, who tackled this exact challenge head-on. Join hosts Elisa Pratt and Andrew Chamberlain as they dive into Angela's strategic approach to governance tran...

Send us Fan Mail What if the best leaders aren't born but made? 🤔 Join hosts Andrew Chamberlain and Elisa Pratt as they dive deep with authentic leadership expert Jennifer Jensen, author of "Developing Authentic Leaders." 🔍 Key takeaways: → Why 90% of leaders suppress their "hidden treasures" at work → How to spot invisible leadership potential in your volunteers → The t...

Send us Fan Mail Join Andrew and Elisa as they preview the Association Transformation Governance & Leadership Executive Retreat, happening September 3-4, 2025 in Berkshire, UK! After five years of collaboration and extensive consultation with association leaders, they're launching this groundbreaking retreat designed specifically for CEOs, executive directors, and board chairs who want to...

Send us Fan Mail Fresh off the heels of ASAE's 2025 MMC+Tech Conference in Washington, D.C., Elisa is back with stories, insights, and a few spicy takes. From packed-out sessions on member behaviour (shout out to Rachel Mace) to memorable conference elements and delicious macarons. Elisa and Andrew dive into what resonated—and what didn't. Is AI really a hot topic anymore or just the “no...

Send us Fan Mail In this energizing episode of Association Transformation , we welcome Rachel Mace, Director of Customer Experience at Association Analytics—and just four houses down the street! From her upcoming solo session at ASAE’s MMC Conference to her bold take on how associations misuse surveys, Rachel brings a fresh and practical perspective on engaging members through their actions , not...

Send us Fan Mail In this candid conversation, hosts Elisa Pratt and Andrew Chamberlain challenge the relentless pursuit of new ideas and constant change in association management. They explore how organizations often chase innovative strategies without implementing existing solutions, leading to instability rather than growth. The hosts propose that in today's turbulent environment, associati...